Protein polymorphism in a feral population of the pigeon Columba livia domestica

Sixteen enzymatic and non-enzymatic proteins of the pigeon Columba livia domestica were examined electrophoretically. These proteins were presumed to be under control by 22 loci. Of the 22 loci, 6 were defined as polymorphic and 15 as monomorphic. Another locus was variable, but the variation was not genetically interpretable. Average heterozygosity calculated over 21 loci was 0.075.     

家鸽、黄雀和黄喉鹀耳蜗核的定位与比较

向非鸣禽家鸽（Ｃｏｌｕｍｂａ ｌｉｖｉａ ｄｏｍｅｓｔｉｃｕｓ）和鸣禽黄雀（Ｃａｒｄｕｅｌｉｓ ｓｐｉｎｕｓ）、黄喉鹀（Ｅｍｂｅｒｉｚａ, ｅｌｅｇａｎｓ）耳蜗内注射 ＨＲＰ作顺行追踪表明,耳蜗纤维组成第八脑神经的听支（ Ｎ Ⅷ）后,分别投射至延髓的角状核（ＮＡ）和巨细胞核（ＮＭ）,由 ＮＡ及 ＮＭ两个亚核组成耳蜗核（ｎｕｃｌｅｕｓ ｃｏｃｈｌｅａ）,它是听觉的上行通路中的第一级中继站,延髓层状核并不接受耳蜗纤维的直接投射。家鸽与黄雀、黄喉鹀之间的ＮＡ、ＮＭ及ＮⅧ在形态和分布上都有较明显的差别。     

Antibiotic resistance in faecal bacteria (Escherichia coli,Enterococcus spp.) in feral pigeons

Aims: To determine the presence of antibiotic‐resistant faecal Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. in feral pigeons (Columba livia forma domestica) in the Czech Republic. Methods and Results: Cloacal swabs of feral pigeons collected in the city of Brno in 2006 were cultivated for antibiotic‐resistant E. coli. Resistance genes, class 1 and 2 integrons, and gene cassettes were detected in resistant isolates by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The samples were also cultivated for enterococci. Species status of enterococci isolates was determined using repetitive extragenic palindromic‐PCR. Resistance genes were detected in resistant enterococci by PCR. E. coli isolates were found in 203 of 247 pigeon samples. Antibiotic resistance was recorded in three (1·5%, n_E. coli = 203) isolates. Using agar containing ciprofloxacin, 12 (5%, n_samples = 247) E. coli strains resistant to ciprofloxacin were isolated. No ESBL‐producing E. coli isolates were detected. A total of 143 enterococci were isolated: Ent. faecalis (36 isolates), Ent. faecium (27), Ent. durans (19), Ent. hirae (17), Ent. mundtii (17), Ent. gallinarum (12), Ent. casseliflavus (12) and Ent. columbae (3). Resistance to one to four antibiotics was detected in 45 (31%) isolates. Resistances were determined by tetK, tetL, tetM, tetO, aac(6′)aph(2′′), ant(4′)‐Ia, aph(3′)‐IIIa, ermB, pbp5, vanA and vanC1 genes. Conclusions: Antibiotic‐resistant E. coli and Enterococcus spp. occurred in feral pigeons in various prevalences. Significance and Impact of the Study: Feral pigeon should be considered a risk species for spreading in the environment antimicrobial resistant E. coli and enterococci.     

Spatial response properties of homing pigeon hippocampal neurons: correlations with goal locations,movement between goals,and environmental context in a radial-arm arena

The amniote hippocampal formation plays an evolutionarily-conserved role in the neural representation of environmental space. However, species differences in spatial ecology nurture the expectation of species differences in how hippocampal neurons represent space. To determine the spatial response properties of homing pigeon (Columba livia) HFneurons, we recorded from isolated units in birds freely navigating a radial arena in search of food present at four goal locations. Fifty of 76 neurons displayed firing rate variations that could be placed into three response categories. Location cells (n=25) displayed higher firing rates at restricted locations in the arena space, often in proximity to goal locations. Path cells (n=13) displayed higher firing rates as a pigeon moved between a subset of goal locations. Arena-off cells (n=12) were more active when a pigeon was in a baseline holding space compared to inside the arena. Overall, reliability and coherence scores of the recorded neurons were lower compared to rat place cells. The differences in the spatial response profiles of pigeon hippocampal formation neurons, when compared to rats, provide a departure point for better understanding the relationship between spatial behavior and how hippocampal formation neurons participate in the representation of space.     

Diversity and abundance of human‐pathogenic fungi associated with pigeon faeces in urban environments

Pathogenic fungi are a growing health concern worldwide, particularly in large, densely populated cities. The dramatic upsurge of pigeon populations in cities has been implicated in the increased incidence of invasive fungal infections. In this study, we used a culture‐independent, high‐throughput sequencing approach to describe the diversity of clinically relevant fungi (CRF) associated with pigeon faeces and map the relative abundance of CRF across Seoul, Korea. In addition, we tested whether certain geographical, sociological and meteorological factors were significantly associated with the diversity and relative abundance of CRF. Finally, we compared the CRF diversity of fresh and old pigeon faeces to identify the source of the fungi and the role of pigeons in dispersal. Our results demonstrated that both the composition and relative abundance of CRF are unevenly distributed across Seoul. The green area ratio and the number of multiplex houses were positively correlated with species diversity, whereas wind speed and number of households were negatively correlated. The number of workers and green area ratio were positively correlated with the relative abundance of CRF, whereas wind speed was negatively correlated. Because many CRF were absent in fresh faeces, we inferred that most species cannot survive the gastrointestinal tract of pigeons and instead are likely transmitted through soil or air and use pigeon faeces as a substrate for proliferation.     

Perch height predicts dominance rank in birds

Dominant individuals within animal groups will frequently place themselves in the most beneficial position for maximal protection against predation. Higher perches are generally associated with reduced predation risk in birds, so we predicted that dominant birds will preferentially place themselves on higher perches. We tested this by determining the dominance hierarchy in two populations of captive birds (Homing Pigeons Columba livia and Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo), and relating rank within the dominance hierarchy to observed perch height preferences. We found that perch choice was significantly repeatable in pigeons, and that more dominant individuals of both species selected higher perches. As well as facilitating early detection of and escape from potential predators, higher perches are also likely to facilitate the display of aggression to other group members.     

鸽子慢性电刺激用电极转接装置及其固定方法

慢性电极植入以及无线刺激技术被广泛应用于动物自由活动状态下的脑区功能研究。实现刺激器与脑内植入电极过渡连接的转接装置需固定在颅骨之上。鸟类特殊的骨质构造不利于转接装置的长期固定。以鸽子(Columba livia)为例设计制作了一种用于慢性运动诱导实验的9通道电极转接装置,长12.8 mm、宽9.5 mm、高5.5 mm,重0.42 g;根据鸽子颅骨特点在固定过程中对颅骨表面进行粗糙化处理增加固定时与牙科水泥的接触面积,并选取特定位点拧入螺钉进行固定,有效延长了转接装置的固定时间。经实验验证能够在鸽子头部稳定固定6个月以上,满足鸽子长期运动诱导研究的需求,未对动物正常活动产生影响。该装置及其固定方法亦可为其他小型动物的脑区功能研究提供借鉴。     

Accumulation of calcium and phosphorus in pigeon (Columba livia) embryos

Summary Calcium and phosphorus were measured in the yolk and albumen of fertile pigeon (Columba livia) eggs incubated for 0–17 days, and in embryos and hatchlings. Shell provided most of the calcium for skeletal mineralization of the embryos, whereas phosphorus was derived from the yolk and albumen. Mobilization of calcium from the shell to the embryo commenced at approximately day 11 of incubation, accumulating both in the embryo and the yolk sac. There was 1.4 times more calcium in squab yolk sacs than that contained in newly laid egg yolks. The results suggest that whereas general patterns of calcium and phosphorus accumulation during embryogenesis in altricial birds closely resemble those of precocial birds, calcium mobilization from the shell begins later, proceeds at a slower rate and results in a less mineralized hatchling.CIDA/NSERC Visiting Research Associate Permanent address: Department of Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka     

Fine Structure of Haemoproteus columbae Kruse During Macrogametogenesis and Fertilization*

When blood is withdrawn from a pigeon (Columba livia) infected with gametocytes of Haemoproteus columbae, differentiation of the gametes begins immediately. This study examines the formation of the macrogamete and its fertilization. The first visible signs of differentiation are the elongation of the nucleus along with the appearance of an intranuclear spindle and atypical centrioles. Then maturation bodies, the products of nuclear reduction, form in both erythrocytic macrogametocytes and macrogametocytes free of their host cells. Penetration of the macrogamete by the microgamete occurs rapidly. Their plasma membranes fuse, and the microgamete's nucleus, axonemes and cytoplasm enter the macrogamete. The nucleus of the microgamete expands and migrates to lie at an angle to the macrogamete nucleus. The 2 fuse across a small area. The nuclear envelope and the plasma membrane of the zygote are a mosaic of the membranes of the 2 gametes.